2020 Honda Passport

 Is the Honda Passport a Good SUV?

Yes, the Honda Passport is a good two-row midsize SUV. Its cabin features upscale materials and loads of standard safety features, while the standard V6 engine delivers solid power and decent fuel economy estimates. The Passport has rugged off-road looks, but it’s suitable for light off-roading only. Some critics bemoan the available infotainment system’s overreliance on touch controls. Additionally, the base model lacks the standard tech features that many rivals possess.

We named the Passport our 2020 Best 2-Row SUV for Families because of its outstanding combination of cargo and passenger space, safety and reliability ratings, positive reviews from automotive journalists, and available family-friendly features.

Should I Buy the Honda Passport?

The Passport is a vehicle worth purchasing. Its starting price is slightly above average for the class, but it makes up for that with lots of standard features, a roomy interior, and a compliant ride. Some other SUVs are also worth your consideration, however. The Honda Pilot is similar to the Passport, but it comes with a third row of seating, while the Hyundai Santa Fe comes standard with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, which are options in the Passport.

Compare the Passport, Pilot, and Santa Fe »

Should I Buy a New or Used Honda Passport?

The 2020 Passport is part of a generation that started for the 2019 model year. Because there were no major changes for 2020, we recommend looking for a 2019 Passport, which is nearly identical to the new Passport but likely less expensive.

If you're considering an older model, be sure to read our 2019 Passport review to help make your decision. Also check out our Used Car Deals page to learn about savings and discounts you can find on used vehicles.

Compare the 2019 and 2020 Passport »

We Did the Research for You: 27 Reviews Analyzed

We’ve analyzed 27 Honda Passport reviews, as well as performance specs, interior dimensions, fuel economy ratings, and more, to give you all the information you need to make a smart car-buying decision.

This 2020 Passport review incorporates applicable research for all models in this generation, which launched for the 2019 model year.

Why You Can Trust Us

U.S. News & World Report has been reviewing cars, trucks, and SUVs since 2007, and our Best Cars team has more than 75 years of combined automotive industry experience. To remain impartial, we do not accept extravagant gifts from automakers, and an outside source handles our advertising.

How Much Does the Honda Passport Cost?

The 2020 Honda Passport has a starting price of $31,990 in its base Sport trim, which is slightly above the class average. Midlevel EX-L and Touring trims start at $36,410 and $39,280, respectively. These trims come standard with front-wheel drive, and you can add all-wheel drive for an additional $1,900. The top Elite trim starts at $43,780 and includes standard AWD.

Check out our U.S. News Best Price Program for great savings at your local Honda dealer. You can also find excellent manufacturer incentives on our Honda deals page.

Honda Passport Versus the Competition

Which Is Better: Honda Passport or Honda Pilot?

The Honda Pilot is basically the Passport with a third row of seating. Both models have the same strong V6 engine, as well as a roomy cabin with premium materials and a similar list of standard features. There are some key differences, though. In addition to extra seats for passengers, the Pilot has about 6 more cubic feet of cargo space. The Passport, however, has a bit more second-row legroom. The Passport is also a more capable off-roader than the Pilot, though neither is exactly a Jeep Wrangler. Your choice between these Hondas comes down to personal preference.

Which Is Better: Honda Passport or Hyundai Santa Fe?

Both the Hyundai Santa Fe and the Passport feature high-end cabin materials and roomy seating for five. However, the highly ranked Santa Fe is a slightly more well-rounded option. While the Passport's V6 engine is stronger than both the Santa Fe's standard four-cylinder and available turbo-four engines, the standard Santa Fe delivers some of the best gas mileage figures in the midsize SUV class. The Hyundai also has a substantially lower base price, a longer warranty, standard Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, and a standard touch screen.

Compare the Passport, Pilot, and Santa Fe »

Passport Interior

How Many People Does the Passport Seat?

Up to five people can fit inside the Passport. Most reviewers say that both rows of seats are roomy and comfortable, but some note that the seats are a little on the firm side.

Cloth upholstery is standard, and leather upholstery is available. Other options include heated and ventilated front seats, a heated steering wheel, and power-adjustable front seats.

Passport and Child Car Seats

There are three complete sets of LATCH connectors for the rear seats. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety gave the Passport's LATCH system the second-highest rating of Acceptable. The system is fairly easy to use, but the upper tethers may be hard to find, and some lower anchors are too deep in the seats. The lower anchors for the middle seat are also tricky to maneuver around.

Passport Interior Quality

The Passport's cabin is composed of high-quality materials and soft-touch surfaces.

Passport Cargo Space

The Passport has an above-average amount of cargo space for a midsize SUV. There's 41.2 cubic feet of space behind the rear seats and 77.9 cubic feet with the rear seats folded down. The Passport also has an under-the-floor storage area with 2.5 cubic feet of space. A hands-free power liftgate is available.

Passport Infotainment, Bluetooth, and Navigation

The Passport's infotainment system receives mixed reviews. Although it's responsive and well-organized, the upgraded system could use some extra physical controls, as the touch screen can be finicky. The standard infotainment system lacks Android Auto and Apple CarPlay.

Standard features include a 5-inch display, a seven-speaker audio system, Bluetooth, and a USB port. Android Auto, Apple CarPlay, an 8-inch touch screen, a 10-speaker premium audio system, navigation, two additional USB ports, satellite radio, HD Radio, a Wi-Fi hot spot, and wireless phone charging are optional.

For more information, read What Is Apple CarPlay? and What Is Android Auto?

Read more about interior »

Passport Performance

Passport Engine: Solid Power

Powered by a 3.5-liter V6 engine that makes 280 horsepower (the same engine that powers the three-row Honda Pilot), the Passport offers quick acceleration. The standard nine-speed automatic transmission provides generally smooth shifts, but it can be a tad slow to downshift.

Passport Gas Mileage: Average

The standard front-wheel-drive Passport gets an EPA-estimated 20 mpg in the city and 25 mpg on the highway. Those figures are on par with the class average. Models with all-wheel drive get 1 less mpg in the city and on the highway.

Passport Ride and Handling: Comfortable Crossover

The Passport delivers a comfortable ride over paved roads, and it remains composed while cornering. Some reviewers go as far as saying that the Passport is agile. All models come standard with front-wheel drive, while all-wheel drive is available.

Passport Off-Road Performance

The Passport is a solid SUV for light off-roading. It has up to 8.1 inches of ground clearance, available all-wheel drive, and an optional Intelligent Traction Management system with Snow, Mud, and Sand driving modes. However, the lack of skid plates, hill descent control, and locking differentials prevent it from being a true off-road warrior.

Passport Towing Capacity

The Passport can tow up to 5,000 pounds when it's properly equipped.

Read more about performance »

Passport Reliability

Is the Honda Passport Reliable?

J.D. Power gives the 2020 Honda Passport a predicted reliability rating of three out of five, which is about average.

Honda Passport Warranty

Honda covers the Passport with a three-year/36,000-mile limited warranty and a five-year/60,000-mile powertrain warranty.

Read more about reliability »

Passport Safety

Passport Crash Test Results

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety named the 2020 Passport a Top Safety Pick. It gave this Honda the highest rating of Good in five crash tests and the second-highest rating of Acceptable in the passenger-side small overlap front test. The Passport's headlights earned an Acceptable rating for how well they illuminate the road ahead.

The IIHS uses a different scale to evaluate collision avoidance features. The Passport earned the highest rating of Superior for the effectiveness of its front crash prevention system.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration gave the 2020 Passport an overall safety rating of five out of five stars, with four stars in frontal crash and rollover tests and five stars in the side crash test.

Passport Safety Features

The Passport comes standard with Honda Sensing, which includes forward collision warning, adaptive cruise control, lane departure warning, lane keep assist, and road departure mitigation. A rearview camera and automatic high-beam headlights are also standard. Available active safety features include front and rear parking sensors, blind spot monitoring, and rear cross traffic alert.

Read more about safety »

Passport Dimensions and Weight

The Passport is about 15.9 feet long. Its curb weight ranges from 3,959 to 4,237 pounds.

Where Is the 2020 Honda Passport Built?

Honda builds the 2020 Passport in Alabama.

Which Honda Passport Model Is Right for Me?

The 2020 Honda Passport comes in four trims: Sport, EX-L, Touring, and Elite. Though the base Sport trim comes standard with many safety features, most shoppers will want to step up to the EX-L trim. It adds smartphone integration technology via Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, as well as comfort-focused features like leather upholstery and heated front seats.

All Passports come with a powerful V6 engine and a nine-speed automatic transmission. Front-wheel drive is standard in the lower three trims, and all-wheel drive is standard in the top Elite trim. You can add all-wheel drive to the first three trims for $1,900.

Honda Passport Sport

The base Sport trim has a starting price of $31,900. It comes with an infotainment system with a 5-inch display, Bluetooth, a USB port, and a seven-speaker stereo. The Sport also features cloth upholstery, push-button start, a proximity key, tri-zone automatic climate control, alloy wheels, and fog lights. Plus, it's loaded with advanced safety tech like a rearview camera, automatic high-beam headlights, forward collision warning, road departure mitigation, adaptive cruise control, lane departure warning, and lane keep assist.

Rear parking sensors are an additional $500, while a wireless phone charger costs $225.

Honda Passport EX-L

The EX-L trim (MSRP: $36,410) adds Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, an 8-inch touch screen, satellite radio, HD Radio, two additional USB ports, blind spot monitoring, rear cross traffic alert, power-adjustable front seats, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, leather upholstery, heated front seats, a power liftgate, and a moonroof.

You can add rear parking sensors and a wireless phone charger in this trim as well.

Honda Passport Touring

Starting at $39,280, the Touring trim adds front and rear parking sensors, a hands-free liftgate, heated rear seats, a 10-speaker premium audio system, and navigation.

A heated steering wheel costs an additional $500.

Honda Passport Elite

The top-level Elite trim starts at $43,780. It adds ventilated front seats, perforated leather upholstery, a heated steering wheel, rain-sensing windshield wipers, and a wireless phone charger.

Check out our U.S. News Best Price Program for great savings at your local Honda dealer. You can also find excellent manufacturer incentives on our Honda deals page.

See 2020 Honda Passport specs and trims »

The Final Call

The 2020 Honda Passport is a very good vehicle that will appeal to many shoppers looking for a two-row SUV or a midsize SUV. The Passport offers a composed ride, a potent engine, loads of cargo and passenger space, and a long list of standard safety features. However, this is a highly competitive segment, and some crossovers have more standard features, easier-to-use touch-screen controls, and more comfortable seats.

Don’t just take our word for it. Check out comments from some of the reviews that drive our rankings and analysis.

• "Those who want big a (sic) two-row crossover SUV that drives well and wears a Honda badge will be more than satisfied with the 2020 Passport. While it's the antithesis of stylish inside or out, it's stockpiled with standard driver assists such as adaptive cruise control and automated emergency braking. The Passport also boasts an exceptionally comfy and commodious interior, with plenty of room to store cargo. Along with optional all-wheel drive, every model is powered by a quick and refined V-6 powertrain." -- Car and Driver
• "If you like the Pilot but don’t need something quite so big, or if you need a daily livable SUV-type thing that can handle a climb to your Colorado cabin, the 2019 Passport is certainly worth a look. While it may not thrill in the conventional sense, this new Honda delivers the goods by doing its job almost perfectly." -- Automobile Magazine (2019)
• "A comfortable cabin, lots of standard and optional safety equipment, and a strong powerplant make it an excellent daily driver, too." -- Edmunds (2019)